Welcome to Planet Whiskies Christmas Guide for Bushmills Distillery.

At Planet Whiskies, we love to review distilleries we have visited over the past couple of years and write about the core range that the distillery produces in the run-up to Christmas. Planet Whiskies was at Bushmills in October 2023, and we all had a wonderful time at the distilleries and the two-day tour of Northern Ireland.

Bushmills has many excellent drams, and we will highlight four below, included in 10, 15, 16 and 21 year old within this particular Christmas 2024 review of Bushmills Core Whiskies. So whether they would be a gift to yourself or a whisky lover, all four would make ideal gifts this Christmas.

The four drams offer everything to the whiskey market, from the 10 year old, ideal if you have never tasted Irish whiskey, to the 21 Year Old, which is for the drinker who "appreciates the finer things in life".

With Bushmills Distilleries being the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery, the experience they have gained over the years, from past master distillers to the current Master Blender Alex Thomas, gives them the ability to keep adding to their core products, and not many, if any distilleries in the world can add a 21 year old to their core range, where this bottle is always available to buy, and as it’s a core bottle, with every bottle tasting the same.

Bushmills Distillery has gone from strength to strength since the turn of the century, as they produced double the amount of spirit in the late 20th century as they required. This now gives the Master Blender even more of a choice for the future, and only Alex Thomas knows what Bushmills will introduce in 2025 and beyond.

Back to the ideal Christmas gifts, the four core range Bushmills whiskeys below are all excellent with different flavours, and all would be perfect for whisky lovers to open up as their present on Christmas Day. Planet Whiskies has received this Bushmills product from showcasing the four drams in small, ideally-looking tasting bottles. We are reviewing them below, with where you can buy each bottle. The RRP is shown with each bottle, but they could be slightly cheaper or dearer on the websites to buy, depending on the seller.

Below are the four Bushmils Irish Whiskey bottles, were you can read tasting notes and more details about each of the bottles. You can also buy these bottles online from The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt, Tescos and Sainsbury.

Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt

Bushmills 10 Year Old is 'for the one that wants to try Irish whiskey'. For the perfect introduction to Bushmills' exceptional single malt range, gift them the 10-Year-Old this Christmas, which is the heart of the Bushmills single malt collection.​

An award-winning single malt matured for at least 10 years in a marriage of hand-selected bourbon barrels and sherry butts, this iconic whiskey is a true reflection of Bushmills' signature style – zesty and fresh on the nose, followed by notes of mellow sweet vanilla, milk chocolate and honeysuckle on the palate.

If you're hosting a drinks party this Christmas, you need this versatile whiskey - enjoyed in a simple, neat serve or a delicious festive highball; you are sure to please everyone.

Buy Bushmills 10 Year Old at Master of Malt for £38.99
Buy Bushmills 10 Year Old at The Whisky Exchange for £42.25

Bushmills 15 Year Old Single Malt

This is for the one with that "je ne sais quoi".

A decadent new addition to Bushmills' exceptional range of single malts, the 15 Year Old is firstly matured in first and second-fill bourbon casks for at least 14 years. It's then finished in rare, aged Cognac casks for up to 12 months, which add a deliciously lighter profile with notes of gentle toasted oak, soft spice, warm vanilla and a sensational caramelised pear richness. 

Buy Bushmills 15 Year Old at Tesco for £49.00
Buy Bushmills 15 Year Old at Sainsbury for £49.00

Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt

This one's the ultimate crowd-pleaser amongst seasoned whiskey drinkers.

Matured for at least 16 years in hand-selected Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels, Bushmills 16 Year Old is finished in port pipes for up to a year. The triple-casking and signature finish transform its colour to a beautiful ruby red and add layers of juicy sun-ripened dark fruit and berries, complex almond nuttiness and a treacly vanilla spice.

Buy Bushmills 16 Year Old at Master of Malts for £94.90
Buy Bushmills 16 Year Old at The Whisky Exchange for £95.25

Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt

This is for the one who likes to slow down to sip and savour.

Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt is the epitome of 'unrushed perfection', crafted in limited quantities, and tells the story of Bushmills' rich heritage in every sip. Matured for at least 19 years in hand-selected Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels, it's then finished in Madeira casks for a further two years. One would say this 21 year old is for that special occasion and celebrations in your life, which are the perfect moments to savour an expression as special as this one. The ideal gift for the whiskey connoisseur and a special person in your life. ​

Buy Bushmills 21 Year Old at The Whisky Exchange for £216
Buy Bushmills 21 Year Old at Master of Malt for £215.99